Association of
Vermont Recyclers

Association of Vermont Recyclers Announces 13th Youth Environmental Summit (YES!)

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Keene NH- High school students from around the nation will attend 13th Youth Environmental Summit (YES!), July 29, 30, and 31 on the campus of Keene State College in New Hampshire. YES! is an opportunity to reward, challenge, and encourage student recyclers and activists and will incorporate an intensive 2 day program filled with state of the art recycling and sustainability workshops specifically designed for tomorrow’s environmental leaders.

YES! is organized by a steering committee of high school students, AVR, and the Youth Environmental Coalition, a grassroots network of high school environmental and recycling clubs, Earth Groups, and involved students. YES! is co-sponsored by the Northeast Resource Recovery Association, The Presidents Council for Sustainable Future at Keene State College, the Environmental Science Department of Antioch New England, and the National Recycling Coalition.

Unlike the concerts, games, skate parks, and shopping trips more commonly associated with teens, this event is planned by and for teens to rally committed student-activists and teen-environmental organizers to an action planning event. High school students from across the nation are invited.

The Youth Environmental Summit brings together high school student-activists for three days of training, planning, networking, and celebration of student-led direct action environmental campaigns. Afterwards, participants will return to their home schools and communities to organize and lead their own environmental campaigns.

The YES! curriculum is specifically designed to give student-leaders the tools needed to organize their own pro-environmental campaigns in their schools and communities. The Association of Vermont Recyclers, an environmental non-profit, began in 1982 as grassroots effort to support recycling programs in Vermont.

Today, AVR is Vermont’s leader in education and technical assistance on solid and hazardous waste prevention and reduction, resource conservation, responsible consumerism, and environmental health. AVR programs reach over 30,000 Vermonters annually through partnerships with waste managers, state agencies, schools, businesses, events, and coalitions.

Students interested in participating in the planning process are encouraged to contact AVR Executive Director Norm Staunton at director@vtrecyclers.org Students interested in attending the Youth Environmental Summit will be able to register online in the coming weeks. Interested attendees should check www.vtrecyclers.org for registration materials and be sure to follow the YES! Facebook page.

Attendance at the three day event is limited to 175 student-activists with a demonstrated interest in planning and leading environmental action campaigns in their schools and communities. Tuition for the event is only $225, which includes two nights lodging at Keen State College in Keene, New Hampshire, all meals from a menu of local and sustainable producers, world renowned trainers and speakers, and supervision by AVR staff and volunteers.

Tuition is subsidized by AVR, its members, and the co-sponsors. The theme of this year’s Summit weekend is “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” and will incorporate expert presenters, training sessions, outdoor adventures, local foods, hands-on learning, and a number of other YES! traditions. While waste prevention and responsible consumerism are key focuses of the event, all aspects of environmental activism will be addressed, from forums on specific issues to trainings on running campaigns.

“YES is an intense weekend” says AVR Executive Director Norm Staunton. “But while the goal is to prepare teens to lead their own campaigns, you can’t neglect the need to network, socialize, and celebrate the success of past campaigns. The Steering Committee does a great job of balancing those needs.” If you would like more information on AVR or the YES! 2011 event, please visit www.vtrecyclers.org or call (800) 223-0150 or email director@vtrecyclers.org